On the main card of UFC 282, we saw a fun battle in the middleweight division. Darren Till (18-4-1) was making his highly anticipated return when he took on the entertaining South African Dricus Du Plessis (17-2).
Leading up to UFC 282, Du Plessis had won five fights in a row. None bigger than his entertaining scrap against Brad Tavares. That said, this battle against Till was his highest profiled matchup to date and he was looking to show out.
Darren Till was just trying to get back on track. A few years ago, Till was an undefeated contender challenging for the title. Now, he’s gone 1-4 in his last five and he has had a ton of trouble staying healthy. He was just looking for a win at UFC 282.
UFC 282 Recap
Round 1
The UFC 282 middleweight contest kicks off with a touch of the gloves. Till immediately pressuring Du Plessis. Big takedown attempt from Du Plessis and he gets Till down here in the opening seconds. Till works his way over to the fence and he’s looking to try and get back up.
However, Du Plessis is blasting him with big left hands up against the fence. Till has no answer here right now and Du Plessis is just controlling him against the fence. More big shots from Du Plessis and Till isn’t answering. Till isn’t hurt, but the referee looks close to stopping it.
Till moves to get the referee off him, but Du Plessis takes him right back down. Du Plessis gets his back and he’s looking for a choke. Till is really wearing a lot of damage from the shots he’s taken in the opening round. Out of no where Darren Till reverses the position.
Big shots from Till and Du Plessis is looking tired here near the end of the first round. Till is going for it big time in the final seconds. Takedown from Du Plessis to end the round and he should be up 1-0 at UFC 282, but Till has the momentum.
Round 2
Du Plessis is up in this one, but he definitely looks fresher in between rounds at UFC 282. Till takes the center to start the second. Pressure from Till and he throws a combination. Nice jab from Till. Straight left now from Till and Du Plessis looks very tired here.
1-2 lands from Till. Low kick from Till and a big left straight. Du Plessis steps in and eats a huge left straight. Till lands a huge knee and Du Plessis shoots desperately and gets Till down for a moment. Till gets right back up and Du Plessis is looking exhausted.
Du Plessis is leaning against the fence in between shots here. Halfway through the round and Till lands another massive left hand. 1-2 now from Till who is just picking apart Du Plessis from the outside. Big left just misses from Till.
Low kick followed by a 1-2 from Till. Step in elbow from Till and Du Plessis blitzes for a takedown and he gets it. Sloppy takedown attempt but he gets it. Du Plessis settles into half guard with 30 seconds left in the round. Du Plessis goes for a leg lock but the bell sounds. Should be Till’s round at UFC 282.
Round 3
Entering the final round and in my opinion, whoever wins this round wins the fight at UFC 282. They embrace to start the final round and here we go. Till pushing forward to start the final frame. Knee up the middle for Till and a big left hand.
Front kick from Till and a right hand counter from Du Plessis. Left straight from Till. Another nice combination on the outside from Till. Left straight from Till and a right counter from Du Plessis. Body shot from Du Plessis. Left counter from Du Plessis lands.
Now a jab from Du Plessis. Triple jab from Darren Till. Lead uppercut from Du Plessis just misses. Both men trade jabs. Left counter from Du Plessis. Big takedown from Du Plessis and he ends up right in the mount. Till turns and gives up his back. Du Plessis immediately locks in a choke and this one is over. Massive win for Dricus Du Plessis.
Dricus Du Plessis def. Darren Till by Submission – Round 3